Infant chair

ABSTRACT

Infants&#39; furniture that comes in a variety of geometries and configurations and is designed for portability and to use materials that wick moisture to support the infant&#39;s weight.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims the benefit of co-pending U.S. provisional application No. 62/210,897, filed on Aug. 27, 2015, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated by reference as if set forth in its entirety herein.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure relates to a seat for an infant, and more particularly to a portable chair that incorporates wicking fabric in its design.

BACKGROUND

Conventional infant furniture is often fashioned from plastics to facilitate a solid structure and non-breathable, heat-retaining fabrics designed to facilitate comfort and warmth. These materials, however, do not permit the ready dissipation of heat and can cause infants to become uncomfortable in warmer temperatures as infants are often challenged with body temperature regulation. Uncomfortable infants are unhappy infants.

Conventional infant furniture is also often cumbersome and challenging to move, store and/or transport.

Accordingly, there is a need for furniture that meets the needs of both infants and parents alike and overcomes these disadvantages.

SUMMARY

Several embodiments described herein relate to infants' furniture that comes in a variety of geometries and configurations and is designed for portability and to use materials that wick moisture to support the infant's weight. Suitable fabrics for use in the present invention include Tencel/Lyocell, organic cotton, bamboo, Babyville fabric, etc.

In one aspect, an infant seat comprising a body support comprising two rails and fabric stretched between the two rails, the body support having a front side, a middle, and a rear side; a front leg assembly connected to the front side of the body support; and a rear leg assembly connected to the middle of the body support, wherein the fabric of the body support consists essentially of a moisture wicking material.

In one embodiment, the infant seat further comprises a shade connected to the rear side of the body support.

In one embodiment, the front leg assembly is pivotably connected to the front side of the body support.

In one embodiment, the rear leg assembly is pivotably connected to the middle of the body support.

In one embodiment, the infant seat further comprises a lower support comprising a fabric extended between the front leg assembly and the rear leg assembly below the body support. In one embodiment, the lower support is retractable. In one embodiment, the fabric of the lower support consists essentially of a moisture wicking material.

In one embodiment, the infant seat further comprises joints at the middle of the body support to make the body support foldable. In one embodiment, the joints are lockable to prevent the body support from folding.

In one embodiment, the body support further comprises means for restraining a infant.

In one embodiment, the front leg assembly is adjustable in length.

In one embodiment, the rear leg assembly is adjustable in length.

In one embodiment, the shade is collapsible.

In one embodiment, the moisture wicking material is selected from the group consisting of Tencel, Lyocell, organic cotton, bamboo fabric, and Babyville fabric.

In one embodiment, the fabric of the body support has a plurality of layers.

In one embodiment, the shade consists essentially of a moisture wicking material.

In one embodiment, the shade has been treated to block UVA and UVB radiation.

In one embodiment, the joints permit the partial folding of the body support.

This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description section. This summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings are not intended to be drawn to scale. In the drawings, each identical or nearly identical component that is illustrated in various figures may be represented by a like numeral. For purposes of clarity, not every component may be labeled in every drawing. Various embodiments will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows an isometric view of one embodiment of the infant chair;

FIG. 2 shows a left side view thereof;

FIG. 3 shows a right side view thereof;

FIG. 4 shows a front view thereof;

FIG. 5 shows a back view thereof;

FIG. 6 shows a top view thereof;

FIG. 7 shows a bottom view thereof; and

FIG. 8 shows a side view thereof, the chair being in a folded configuration.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Various embodiments are described more fully below with reference to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and which show specific exemplary embodiments. However, the concepts of the present disclosure may be implemented in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided as part of a thorough and complete disclosure, to fully convey the scope of the concepts, techniques and implementations of the present disclosure to those skilled in the art. Embodiments may be practiced as methods, systems or devices. Accordingly, embodiments may take the form of a hardware implementation, an entirely software implementation or an implementation combining software and hardware aspects. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense.

Reference in the specification to “one embodiment” or to “an embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiments is included in at least one example implementation or technique in accordance with the present disclosure. The appearances of the phrase “in one embodiment” in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment.

In addition, the language used in the specification has been principally selected for readability and instructional purposes and may not have been selected to delineate or circumscribe the disclosed subject matter. Accordingly, the present disclosure is intended to be illustrative, and not limiting, of the scope of the concepts discussed herein.

Embodiments of the present invention relate to a portable infant chair that permits infants to tolerate warm environments in relative comfort. The chair achieves portability by being convertible from a fully deployed state, where it is configured to support an infant in a seating or reclined position, to a portable state, where it is configured to be approximately flat and easily carryable or stowable.

With reference to FIG. 1, in one embodiment, a foldable infant's chair in accord with the present invention includes a body support 100, a shade 104, a frame 108, and a support 112.

The body support 100 is fabricated from at least one layer of a moisture wicking material stretched between one or more rails that make the material taut and capable of supporting an infant's body weight. In some embodiments, the moisture wicking materials are used as a surface covering, e.g., for a pad or cushion. In other embodiments, the support 100 may be fabricated from a combination of moisture wicking and non-wicking materials. In still other embodiments the body support 100 is fabricated in its entirety from moisture wicking material. In still other embodiments, the body support 100 has multiple layers.

The support 100 is meant to hold an infant in a reclining position, with the shade 104 deployed as needed to help keep the infant cool or to keep the sun out of the infant's eyes. In other embodiments, the support 100 may be configured to support the infant in a sitting or upright position.

The support 100 may have one or more joints to permit the body support 100 to be folded or adjusted. The joints may be lockable to prevent them the support 100 from folding unintentionally or at unexpected times.

The body support 100 in some embodiments may include a belt or other means for restraining an infant, to prevent the infant from leaving the seat unexpectedly.

As depicted, the support 100 is connected to a front leg assembly and a rear leg assembly. Either or both of the assemblies may be adjustable to change the height of the assembly. Making the front leg assembly higher relative to the rear leg assembly permits the seat to be tilted forwards or backwards.

The leg assemblies may be fixedly mounted to the body support 100, or they may be movably or pivotably mounted, permitting the orientation of the seat to be adjusted or permitting the seat to be folded down to take less space and/or facilitate portability. When pivotably mounted, the pivots may be lockable to prevent them from pivoting unintentionally or at unexpected times.

The shade 104 may be, but is not necessarily made from, moisture wicking material, either the same moisture wicking material as the moisture wicking material of the support 100 or another moisture wicking material. In certain embodiments, the shade 104 may block UVA and/or UVB and otherwise provide sun protection, in addition to or in lieu of moisture wicking functionality.

The shade 104 may be fixed in place, or it may be adjustable. In some embodiments, the shade 104 may be collapsible to permit it to be put away on cloudy days or otherwise when desired.

The frame 108 gives shape and form to the chair generally. In this embodiment, the frame 108 is foldable to facilitate transportation and storage. In other embodiments, the frame 108 is fixed, i.e., not foldable.

The support 112 is meant to give strength to the chair when it is unfolded. Some embodiments of the chair may not include a support 112. Like shade 104, support 112 may be, but is not necessarily made from, wicking material, either the same as the wicking material of the support 100 or another wicking material.

The support 112 also offers a convenient way to store various small items (cups, toys, etc.) when the infant seat is in use. The support 112 may be retractable/extendable, i.e., being stored in a roller in either one of the leg assemblies and extendable to the opposite leg assembly and being attachable to function as a support.

In some embodiments, various pieces or portions of the chair (e.g., under the infant's bottom) may be fabricated from multiple layers of material to provide greater strength, wearability, or durability of the reinforced region.

FIG. 2 shows a left side view of the chair of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 shows a right side view of the chair of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 shows a front view of the chair of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 shows a back view of the chair of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 shows a top view of the chair of FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 shows a bottom view of the chair of FIG. 1.

FIG. 8 shows a side view of the chair of FIG. 1, the chair being in a folded configuration.

The methods, systems, and devices discussed above are examples. Various configurations may omit, substitute, or add various procedures or components as appropriate. For instance, in alternative configurations, the methods may be performed in an order different from that described, and that various steps may be added, omitted, or combined. Also, features described with respect to certain configurations may be combined in various other configurations. Different aspects and elements of the configurations may be combined in a similar manner. Also, technology evolves and, thus, many of the elements are examples and do not limit the scope of the disclosure or claims.

Having described several example configurations, various modifications, alternative constructions, and equivalents may be used without departing from the spirit of the disclosure. For example, the above elements may be components of a larger system, wherein other rules may take precedence over or otherwise modify the application of various implementations or techniques of the present disclosure. Also, a number of steps may be undertaken before, during, or after the above elements are considered.

Having been provided with the description and illustration of the present application, one skilled in the art may envision variations, modifications, and alternate embodiments falling within the general inventive concept discussed in this application that do not depart from the scope of the following claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An infant seat comprising: a body support comprising two rails and fabric stretched between the two rails, the body support having a front side, a middle, and a rear side; a front leg assembly connected to the front side of the body support; and a rear leg assembly connected to the middle of the body support, wherein the fabric of the body support consists essentially of a moisture wicking material
 2. The infant seat of claim 1 further comprising a shade connected to the rear side of the body support.
 3. The infant seat of claim 1 wherein the front leg assembly is pivotably connected to the front side of the body support.
 4. The infant seat of claim 1 wherein the rear leg assembly is pivotably connected to the middle of the body support.
 5. The infant seat of claim 1 further comprising a lower support comprising a fabric extended between the front leg assembly and the rear leg assembly below the body support.
 6. The infant seat of claim 5 wherein the lower support is retractable.
 7. The infant seat of claim 5 wherein the fabric of the lower support consists essentially of a moisture wicking material.
 8. The infant seat of claim 1 further comprising joints at the middle of the body support to make the body support foldable.
 9. The infant seat of claim 8 wherein the joints are lockable to prevent the body support from folding.
 10. The infant seat of claim 1 wherein the body support further comprises means for restraining a infant.
 11. The infant seat of claim 1 wherein the front leg assembly is adjustable in length.
 12. The infant seat of claim 1 wherein the rear leg assembly is adjustable in length.
 13. The infant seat of claim 2 wherein the shade is collapsible.
 14. The infant seat of claim 1 wherein the moisture wicking material is selected from the group consisting of Tencel, Lyocell, organic cotton, bamboo fabric, and Babyville fabric.
 15. The infant seat of claim 1 wherein the fabric of the body support has a plurality of layers.
 16. The infant seat of claim 2 wherein the shade consists essentially of a moisture wicking material.
 17. The infant seat of claim 2 wherein the shade has been treat to block UVA and UVB radiation.
 18. The infant seat of claim 8 wherein the joints permit the partial folding of the body support. 